Cripper convince with their enthralling mix of old-school and modern Thrash Metal. Served with technical refinement and a lot of groove, they kick ass while being varied and distinct.Since their founding in 2005, the guys and gal from Hanover left their marks as being a rousing live band, carrying the audience with dashing songs and sweaty shows.On tours with Overkill and Onslaught, Cripper spread their virus throughout Europe.Once a big festival got infected, they gladly book the band repeatedly – therefore Cripper played several times on festivals like Summer Breeze, Wacken Rocks, Metalfest and Rockharz Open Air.But there's even more – boarding the well-known 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise ship from Miami twice, playing the Brutal Assault festival in Czech Republic, shows at the Bang Your Head, in Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Switzerland and being invited to enter the stage of the Slovenian Metaldays 5 (!) times let Cripper gain international recognition and a continuously growing fanbase.So far Cripper have released three studio albums and with that formed their distinctive style. Especially on their current album "Antagonist", Cripper sound mature and show an exuberant joy of playing.The creative works of this highly motivated selfmade-team is always showing through in three different aspects: the album artworks, merchandise and so far four complex and artistic music video productions, that the band has self-produced from A to Z.Having been exposed to CRIPPER at Metaldays 2013, Metal Blade Records will release the upcoming 4th album "Hyena" which is expected for a November release. Giving CRIPPER an extra boost as they march into the future!

Album:

German Thrash metal band, CRIPPER, are set to release their album ‘Hyena’ on November 25th 2014 in Europe and the 25th November in the US. It will be their fifth studio album since their debut, “Killer Escort Service” which arrived in 2006.Hyena is a thrill ride to say the least. It is clear from the intricate, impactful guitar riffs that CRIPPER have a lot of skill regarding both their playing style and song structure. You get the impression that each and every song on this album was groomed until it couldn’t get any better. The verse, bridge and chorus etc… lead perfectly into one another. For instance, there will be a guitar hook in the chorus that leads into the next verse which has interlinking harmonies. It’s incredibly pleasing to the ears.In terms of sound and feel of the album, it is definitely a reflection of old school thrash metal bands. CRIPPER have in-corporated the melody and aggression of bands like Anthrax and MEGADETH, but also have used punk elements that thrash has been mythologised to exist in Thrash. Punk is evident in songs like ‘Pure’ where there is a section of fast guitar, base and drum lines made up of that distorted, shady guitar punk songs are known for. However, the grit and echo of European metal is also featured in songs like “Hyena” and “7” ”. Although it sounds like there is a flux of different musical influences, which there are to some extent, Hyena is at its core is a thrash metal album.Not only is the music quality fantastic, but the sound production for an underground metal band is pristine. It is not always the case for an underground metal band to have that good production. You can hear each sound perfectly. Every smash of a symbol, guitar note and base line rings beautifully in the ears rather than the sound going all fuzzy when the base is too deep and so on.The band have also put a lot of effort into making a limited edition ‘fan box’ will be available due release. This edition of the album will feature an awesome T-shirt, with some photographs thrown in and there will be a CD-DVD deal going on. Really its collective items that would make any long term CRIPPER fan drool with excitement. The fan box is yet another example of how much CRIPPER are dedicated musicians that they are making music because they love it. They seem like really humble guys who care a lot about their fans and want them to have the best experience consuming CRIPPERS’s music.Ultimately, there isn’t anything wrong with this album. The sound quality, the music itself and the aesthetically pleasing art work that features on the front (which is of a wolf and a city scape behind it, done in black and white and made to look like it was drawn in charcoal ) all make the album listening experience enjoyable, more than enjoyable. If you’re into thrash metal or the European stuff, then give CRIPPERS’s, Hyena a go.